It was possibly the greatest moment of his life—cheers from 67,000 fans echoing through the stadium, with 89 million watching on TV.
Twenty-two years later, Eric Johnson faced another pivotal moment. But this time there were no cameras and no cheers—only a courtroom, where Johnson pleaded guilty on August 15 for his role in LOTTO, a Georgia-based human trafficking gang.
Predator. Violent criminal. Those words now define Eric Johnson.
LOTTO (“Last One To Take Over”) held women against their will through violence and fear and exploited them for profit, trafficking five females—one of them a child.
While a member, Johnson transported two of the adult victims and furnished the gang’s leaders with firearms and cash.
Johnson was charged with pimping, street-gang terrorism and conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). His 20-year sentence, announced on September 19, consists of 10 years in prison followed by a decade of probation.
Johnson’s partners in the human slave trade—gang leaders who had ties to the Crips and others—received longer sentences.
“This is a criminal network that trafficked a child to make money, and we went after all those involved—taking down the gang’s leaders, associates and the entire LOTTO operation,” said Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr.
The Johnson case was investigated by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by the Georgia Attorney General’s elite Human Trafficking and Gang Prosecution Units—teams that have racked up more than 175 convictions and rescued over 200 children since their formation in 2019 and 2022 respectively.
“We’re fighting each day to protect our most vulnerable Georgians, and we won’t rest until every predator and violent criminal is held accountable,” Carr said.
Predator. Violent criminal. Those words now define Eric Johnson.
How did he fall so far?
When did he cease to be a human being and become an enslaver?
Was he always capable of this?
And does it even matter?
The real point is, as Carr put it, “The Gwinnett County community is safer today because the LOTTO gang is behind bars.”
